Apparatus for grading hills



H C. BAILEY APPARATUS FOR GRADING HILLS Nov. 11 24.

3 Sheets-Sheet. l

INVENTQR ATTOR N EY H c. BAlLEY APPARATUS FOR GRADING HILLS Filed Feb. 9, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITN ESSES Nmr. 11, 1924- H C. BAILEY APPARATUS FOR GRADING HILLS Filed Feb. 9,

WiTNESSES ATTORNEY Fatentecl Nov. 11, 1924.

STATE I-I CHARLES BAILEY, O'F SENECA, KANSAS.

APPARATUS FOR GRADING HILLS.

Application filed February 9, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, H CHARLES BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seneca, in the county of Nemaha and State of Kansas, have invented a new and'useful Improvement in Apparatus for Grading Hills, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for grading hills, and its object broadly is to provide a system for this purpose which is largely automatic in its nature and etlicient in its operation, whereby hills may be reduced to a uniform grade in the shortest possible time and at a low cost.

The system which I have invented may, if desired, be operated by a single attendant, although it may be more economical in some cases to have two attendants, especially where there are many large rocks to interfere with the operation of the scoop.

The apparatusincludes a system of cables driven by a suitable double drum hoisting engine of ordinary construction whereby a series of scoops may be reciprocated along the road or other tract to be graded, means also being provided for shifting the cables laterally and thereby adjusting the path of the scoops to a parallel position, as may be desired.

The invention will be best understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows the preferred means for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings, 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in operative position on a roadway;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the scoops;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cover which may be optionally used;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through one of the scoops;

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the same;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the scoop blades;

Figure 7 is a detail view of one of the cables to which the scoops are attached;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of the means for operating the scoops;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which a hill is graded;

Serial No. 618,013.

Figure 10 is a detail view showing a scoop as it is being filled; and

Figure 11 is a detail view showing the same being emptied.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the apparatus includes a series of scoops 1, which are connected in longitudinal alinement to a cable 2, which is supported by a suitable number of pulley 3 and 4, and has its ends wound about the drums 5 and 6 respectively, which are adapted to be selectively rotated in opposite directions by means of a suitable hoisting engine 7 the drum 5 being operatively connected by means of a lever 8 to draw the scoops in the direction in which the load is to be carried while the drum 6 may be operatively connected by means of a lever 9 to reverse the travel of the cable and scoops in returning for another load. It will be understood that the cable unwinds from one of the drums while being wound upon the other drum.

The portion of the cable 2 which is directly connected to the scoops'is divided into two strands 10 and 11 which pass upon the opposite sides of the scoop and are secured to the sides thereof by suitable clips 12, as seen in Figure 2. Each of the strands 10' and 11 are formed in a plurality of oppositely disposed sections connected by hooks and eyes 13, as shown in Figure 7 to permit the addition or removal of any desired number of scoops at any time, since the number of scoops which it is practicable to use will depend not only upon the power of the engine employed, but also upon the condition of the soil. I

The supporting pulley 3, which is located at the extreme end of the section or tract to be graded, is connected by means of a cable 14: to a suitable stake 15 which is securely placed, preferably in the center of the road. One or more pulleys 4 are provided for supporting the portion of the cable 2 which extends directly from the pulley 3 to the drum'6, the pulley being supported on a cable 16, which is stretched from side to side of the road and supported by posts or stakes 17.

By the mechanism heretofore described, it will be understood that the scoops may be reciprocated longitudinally along the central line of the roadway. In order to shift the scoops and the cable by which they are actuated laterally so that the scoops will traverse a path parallel to that formerly traversed, tackle blocks 18 and 19 are connected to the cable at either end of the' series of scoopsand supported by stakes 20 and 21 respectively at one side of the roadway. Suitable cables 22 and 23 connected to the respective tackle blocks pass through a double pulley 24: located by the road side near the hoisting engine and are wound about a suitable windless 25 preferably located upon E28 )7 winding up the two cables 22 and 23 simultaneously on the windlass 25, the cable 2 at each end of the scoops will be moved laterally by a parallel motion and in this mannor the path of the scoops may be changed as often as desired and all parts of the roadway between the central line and one side of the roadway may be reached.

While grading one side of the road in the manner set forth, it will be understood that the other side of the road may be kept open for traflic, the supporting cable 16 being suspended high enough to permit vehicles to pass underneath. When the grading of one side of the road has been completed, the cables 22 and 23 may be transferred to the opposite side of the road and supported from posts 26 and 27, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1.

Each of the scoops 1 is formed with side walls 28 and 29, which are connected and securely held by channel bars 30 and 31 or the like, which are suitably braced, as by bars 32. The side walls 28 and 29 are pro vided near their lower edges with suitable runners 33 which may be formed of angle iron or the like, upwardly curved at each end, and which limit the depth to which the scoop: may penetrate the ground. A trans verse pivot rod 34 is secured near the upper rear corners of the side walls to which a scraper blade 35 is pivotally connected by suitable hinges 36. The downward movement of the scraper blade is limited by 'flanges or angle irons 37 secured to the inner sides of the walls 28 and 29 and so shaped as to conform to the curvature of the blade. The'position of the runners 33 and the flanges 37 is such that when the scoop is drawn forwardly, the lower edge of the blade 35 will penetrate the ground and remove a thin layer thereof in the mann'er illustrated in Figure 4c.

A hook 38 may be pivotally secured to the underside of one of the brace bars 32 in order to engage with the edge of the blade 35 to holdrthe same inoperative when it is desired to transfer the scoop from place to place without performing any grading.

In loose or sandy soil, it is desirable to provide means to prevent the scraper blade from digging in after the scoop has become filled and I have therefore provided a cover 39, which may be removably secured to the side walls of the scoop by means of depending straps 40, which are adapted to pass through and be secured in sockets 41 which are provided at the upper edges of the side walls. When the cover 39 is used, the scoop, as soon as it has become filled, will be pushed up by the accumulated load and will rideover the surface of the ground.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a practical system for road grading and the like, which may be satisfactorily operated by a single attendant and the scoops may be rapidly reciprocated over the roadway merely by shifting the levers 8 and 9. After the apparatus has once been set up, it may be continuously op-' erated until the grading of one-half of the roadway hasbeen completed, the lateral adjustment of the scoops being readily accomplished by means of the windlass 25. By this method, a hill may be cut down within a short time and the dirt distributed at the foot of the hill. By operating only on onehalf of the road at a time, the other half may be kept open for trafiic. After one side of the road has been graded, it will only take a few minutes to transfer the control cables to the opposite side of the roadway, so that the other half may be graded.

It will be understood, of course, that the post 15 at the farther end is located at a suflicient distance to permit the cable 2 and the scoops to be pulled sidewise sufficiently to reach the extreme side of the road and the hoisting engine is likewise located at a suficient distance from the tackle block 19.

Since the entire operation is carried out rapidly and continuously with the attention of only one operator, it is obvious that the grading may be accomplished much more economically than by the means hitherto em ployed. The invention, however, is not limited to the specific means which I have shown and described, since various modifications may obviously be devised which will embody the principle of my invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims.

lVhat is claimed is 1. An apparatus for road grading, comprising a cable, a power plant including a pair of adjacent drums-on which the respective ends of the cable are wound, a pulley over which one flight of the cable passes, means adapted to be stretched across the roadway for supporting said pulley above said roadway, the other flight of said cable having a train of scrapers secured thereto, said drums being selectively operable to Wind up the cable to cause the scrapers to be drawn in either direction over the road-' rection to remove material from the roadone flight of the cable being divided for a portion of its length into two strands, a train of scrapers secured between the strands, said drums being selectively operable to wind up the cable to cause the scrapers to be drawn in either direction over I theroadway, said scrapers each having a blade operable when moved in one direction to remove material from the roadway and operable when moved in the other direction to discharge the material.

An apparatus for road grading, cornprising a cable, a power plant including a pair of drums on which the adj acent'ends of the cable are wound, a pulley over which one flight of the cable passes, means for suspending said pulley above the roadway, the other flight of said cable having a train of scrapers secured thereto, said drums being selectively operable to wind up the cable to cause the scrapers to be drawn'in either direction over the roadway, said scrapers each having a blade automatically operable when the scraper is moved in one directionto remove material trom the roadway and operable when the scraper is moved in the opposite direction to discharge the material, and other cables attachable to the first-mentioned cable in front of and in rear of thetrain of scrapers, and operable to adjust said train of scrapers laterally, so that they may traverse any portion of the roadway in a line parallel to its longitudinal center.

1. An apparatus for road grading, comprising a cable adapted to be suspended above the road, a plurality of pulleys over which the cable passes, apower plant including a pair of adjacent drums on which the respective ends of the cable are wound, one flight of the cable being divided for a portion of its length into two strands, a train of scrapers secured between the strands, said drums being selectively operable to wind up the cable to cause the scrapers to be drawn in either direction over the roadway, said scrapers each having a blade operable when removed in one direction to remove material from the roadway and operable when moved in the other direction to discharge the material, and means for simultaneously adjusting laterally both ends of the portion of the cable to which the scrapers are secured, so that the scrapers may traverse any portion of the roadway in a line parallel to the path previously traversed.

5. An apparatus for road grading, comprising a cable adapted to be suspended above the road, means for reciprocating the cable longitudinally, a portion of said cable being divided into two strands, a train of so apers having their sides secured to the respective strands and each having a blade operable when moved in one direction to remove material from the roadway and operable when moved in the opposite direction to discharge the material. I

6. An apparatus for road grading, comprising a cable'adapted to be suspended above the road, means for reciprocating the cable longitudinally, a portion of said cable being divided into two strands, a train of scrapers secured between the strands and each having a blade operable when moved in one direction to remove material from the roadway and ope able when moved in the opposite direction to discharge the material, and means for adjusting laterally to a parallel position the portion of the cable to which the scrapers are secured so that the scrapers may traverse any portion of the roadway in a line parallel to the path previously traversed.

7. An apparatus for road grading, comprising a cable, a power plant includinga c pair of adjacent drums on which the respective ends of the cable are wound, a pulley over which one flight of the cable passes, means for suspending said pulley above the roadway, the other flight of said cable being divided into two st ands, said strands having a plurality of opposed removable sections, a scraper secured between the opposed members of each pair of sections, said scrapers each having a blade automatically operable when the scraper is moved in one direction to remove material from the roadway, and operable when the scraper is moved in the opposite direction to discharge said material.

8. An apparatus for road grading, comprising a cable adapted to be suspended above the road, means for reciprocating the cable longitudinally, a portion of said cable being divided into two strands, said strands having a plurality of opposed removable sections, a scraper secured between the opposed members of each pair of sections, said scrapers each having a blade operable when moved in one direction to move material from the roadway, and operable when moved in the opposite direction to discharge said material.

9. A grading implement comprising a body having side boards and an open front end, a cable having a portion divided into two strands which are secured to opposite sides of the body, braces extending across the top of the body, runners secured to the body, and a scraper blade hinged within the sides of the body and operable when the implement is moved in one direction by the cable to remove material from the roadway, and operable when the implement is moved in the opposite direction to discharge said material.

within the body and operable when the inrplement is moved in one direction by the cable to pro ect into the ground and remove material therefrom said material bein discharged from the body when the implement is moved in the opposite direction.

11. it grading implement comprisinga body having side boards and an open front end, runners secured to the sides of the body above their bottom edges and limiting the depth at which the implement travels, a

scraper blade hinged within the body, means for positively limiting the downward movement of the blade about its pivot, said blade being operable when the implement is moved forwardly to dig into the ground and remove material therefrom, and a cover removably secured toqthe side boards and operable by the material when the body is filled to raise the implement and cause the blade to ride above the surface.

12. A grading implement comprising a body having side boards and an open front end, means secured to opposite sides of the body for moving the implement forwardly or backwardly, angle irons secured to the outer faces of the side boards to form runners which limit the depth at which the implement travels, a rod extending between the side boards near their upper rear corners, a blade pivotally mounted on said rod and normally extending downwardly and forwardy to a point beneath the surface of the ground, angle irons secured to the inner faces of the side boards and on which the sides of the blade normally rest, said blade being operable when the implement is moved forwardly to dig into the ground and remove material therefrom, and a cover removably secured to the side boards and operable by the material when the body is filled toraise the implement and cause the blade to ride above the surface.

113. l grading implement comprising a body open at its front end, and having a scraper blade pivotally mounted within the body and extending below the surface of the ground, a cable having portions secured to opposite sides of the body, means for moving the cable in'opposite directions, said scraper blade being operable when the implementis moved forwardly by thecable to remove material from the ground and direct it into the body, and a cover removably secured to the body and operable by the pressure of the material when the body is filled to raise the implement and cause the blade to ride above the surface.

14:. An apparatus for road grading, comprising a cable adapted to be suspended above the road, a plurality of pulleys over which the cable passes, a pair of adjacent drums on which the respective ends of the cable are wound, one flight of the cable having a train of scrapers secured thereto, said drums being selectively operable to wind up the cable to cause the scrapers to be drawn in either direction over the roadway, and means attached to the cable. between the t-lt l of scrapers and its respective points of support for deflectinglaterally to a parallel position the portion of the cable to which the scrapers are secured so that the scrapers may traverse any portion of the roadway in a line parallel to its longitudinal center.

15. An apparatus for road grading, comprising a cableadapted to be suspended above the road, means for reciprocating the cable longitudinally, a portion of said cable being divided into two strands, said strands having a plurality of opposed removable sections, a scraper secured between the opposed members of each pair of sections.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature;

H CHARLES BAILEY. 

